Serial killer admits abducting, raping and killing Milly Dowler

Serial killer Levi Bellfield has admitted abducting, raping and killing schoolgirl Milly Dowler for the first time, police said.

Bellfield, who was given a whole-life prison sentence in June 2011 for the brutal slaughter of the 13-year-old, made the admission during an investigation into whether he had an accomplice, Surrey Police said today.

Levi Bellfield (who now calls himself Yusuf Rahim)

The force also revealed it had arrested a man in his 40s on Wednesday before releasing him without charge over the allegation, after finding there was no evidence to support it.

In a statement issued through solicitors, Milly's family said: "The Dowler family has been made aware of the recent arrest.

"They have been aware for some consideration time that a new police investigation was taking place into the circumstances of the abduction and murder of Milly.

"The effect of this information has been devastating for a family which has already had to endure so much.

"We must stress how important it is that, notwithstanding this development, the Dowler family should be afforded privacy and space to go about their lives, and we are grateful for the consideration of the public and media in that regard."

Milly was snatched from the street while on her way from school to her home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002. Bellfield was found guilty of abducting and killing 13-year-old Milly following a trial at the Old Bailey.

In February 2012 he lost a bid to challenge his conviction at the Court of Appeal in London.

A police spokesman said today: "During this investigation police have also spoken to Levi Bellfield and he has admitted his responsibility for the abduction, rape and murder of Milly Dowler.

"Despite his conviction, this is the first time Bellfield has made such admissions to police.

Bellfield was already in jail for the murders of Amelie Delagrange and Marsha McDonnell, and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, when he went on trial accused of killing Milly.

In 2008, he had been given a whole life term for murdering Ms McDonnell, 19, in 2003, and murdering Ms Delagrange, 22, and attempting to murder Ms Sheedy, 18, in 2004.

Milly's body was found in a wood in Yateley Heath, Hampshire - 25 miles from Walton-on-Thames. Experts could not say how she died.
Bellfield, who now calls himself Yusuf Rahim, lived 50 yards from where Milly vanished but did not become a suspect until he was arrested by police in London for the other crimes in 2004.

The Surrey Police spokesman added that the man arrested today was held "in relation to allegations of rape and assisting an offender".

He added: "The arrest was made following new information regarding an accomplice being involved with Levi Bellfield (who now calls himself Yusuf Rahim) in the abduction and rape, but not murder of Milly Dowler.

"Police have thoroughly investigated this claim and as the final part of their inquiries made the arrest today. The man arrested has subsequently been released with no further action as no evidence has been found to support the allegations."

The judge at his trial described Bellfield as a "cruel and pitiless killer".

After he had been convicted of Milly's murder Bellfield yawned as he was led from court.

When he refused to return to the Old Bailey for sentencing the next day, Mr Justice Wilkie said Bellfield had ''not had the courage'' to come to court.

Bellfield subjected Milly's family to the "appalling anguish" of many months of not knowing what had become of her, the judge had said.

He added: "But most cruel of all, in an attempt to divert responsibility from himself, he instructed his lawyers in this trial to expose to the world her most private, adolescent thoughts, secrets and worries, and sought to hint that she was a dark, unhappy and troubled person."